Multiple compartment single piece blank carton and single piece blank therefor



Jan. 24, 1967 A. A. GRASHEGE 3,300,116

MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT SINGLE PIECE BLANK CARTON AND SINGLE PIECE BLANKTHEREFOR Filed May 21, 1964 3 Sheets$heet 2 HQ. 4 v Q30 ATTORNEY Jan.24, 1967 GRASHEGE 3,300,1 16

MULTIPLE GOMPARTMENT SINGLE PIECE BLANK CARTON AND SINGLE PIECE BLANKTHEREFOR Filed May 21, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Albert A. GrashegeATTORNEY United States Patent 3,300,116 MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT SINGLEPIECE BLANK CARTON AND SINGLE PIECE BLANK THERE- FOR Albert A. Grashege,1213 Vine St., West Des Moines, Iowa 50265 Filed May 21, 1964, Ser. No.369,166 20 (Ilaims. (Cl. 22928) This invention relates to a multiplecompartment single piece blank carton and single piece blank thereforand has for an object to provide a single piece blank and carton madetherefrom wherein the carton is provided with a number of individualcompartments, wherein preferably one item placed in each compartmentwill be completely protected from contact with the items in all theother compartments, thus eliminating the possibility that breakage ofbreakable items can be caused by the contact of items in differentcompartments.

A further object of this invention is to provide a one piece cartonblank and carton therefrom wherein a multiplicity of compartments areprovided wherein an item may be placed in each compartment and becompletely enclosed by itself and thus be completely protected frompossible contact or damage by the items in any of the othercompartments.

A further object of this invention is to provide a one piece blank formaking a carton, and a carton made from a one piece blank, wherein withbut slight modification in the proportions, either a four or sixcompartment carton may be provided, and wherein, by providing twoadditional slits so as to divide two of the panels into three ratherthan two divider panels, a nine compartment carton is provided.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a one piece blankfor making a multiple compartment carton, and a multiple compartmentmade from the blank wherein basically the same blank, in suitableproportions, may be used for providing a variety of multiple compartmentcartons, including a two, three, four, six, nine and twelve compartmentcarton, the blanks for the different cartons differing only in theprovision of a certain additional fold line, or additional slits, orboth.

A further object of this invention is to provide a carton made from aone piece blank, and the blank therefor, wherein, in the two, three,four, six, nine and twelve compartment carton, each compartment may beof the identical size, if desired, or some may be of different sizes,and wherein, by the omission of a fold line or of a particular panel,four, seven, eight, ten or eleven compartment cartons may be provided,wherein one or more compartments will be of a different size than theremaining compartments.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a carton and onepiece blank therefor wherein a multiple compartment carton may beprovided with each compartment completely separated from each and everyother compartment, so that there is no possibility of an item packed inany compartment contacting an item packed in any other compartment, thuspermitting a number of items to be packaged in the same carton, yet becompletely separated from contact with each other.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a carton and a onepiece blank for making the carton which may be manufactured on existingmachinery, which does not necessitate an extensive or expensivemodification either in the machinery or the process for making thisinvention.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a one piececarton blank and multiple compartment carton made therefrom wherein thetwo, four and six compartment sizes are each provided with at least adouble thick- 3,300,116 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 ness of compartment floorand cover, thus providing a greater cushioning effect on the top and thebottom of the items packaged therein, and wherein, in the nine andtwelve compartment size, a double thickness of compartment cover isprovided on all nine or twelve compartments, and a double thickness offloor is provided on at least six of the nine or twelve compartments forsubstantial cushioning efiect.

A further object of this invention is to provide a multiple compartmentblank which may be made by conventional existing machinery Without anyextensive or expensive modifications of the machinery.

A further object of this invention is to provide a one piece cartonblank and multiple compartment carton wherein the carton, after beingcompleted, may be collapsed to a flat position for shipping and storing,and may be set up for use as needed.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists inthe details of construction and combination of parts, as will be morefully understood from the following description, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a six compartmentcarton of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the blank for the carton of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective, phantom view of a twelve compartment carton ofthis invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a four compartment carton of thisinvention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective, phantom view of a nine compartment carton ofthis invention.

There is shown at 10 the basic one piece blank used in making up thecarton of this invention, which carton may have two, three, four, six,nine or twelve compartments, with each compartment completely separatefrom each other compartment. In addition, cartons with any number ofcompartments from one to twelve may be provided with one or more unequalsize compartments. As shown, the blank 10 is particularly intended formaking the six compartment carton 12 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, but with onlyslight changes in proportions or in location of certain slits, it isused in making any of the other size cartons.

The blank 10 consists of four linearly extending alternate rectangularside panels 14 and 16 and end panels 18. Obviously either two alternatepanels may be considered as side panels and the other two panels arethen the end panels. In formingg a carton 12, these four panels arefolded into rectangular relationship, and extend vertically, and asecuring flap 19, extending from the end edge of one linear end panel issecured, as by glue or otherwise, to the other linear end panel, thusholding the panels 14, 16 and 18 in vertically extending rectangularrelationship to each other..

Foldably extending from the bottom edges of each of the side panels 14and 16 is a compartment floor and divider wall portion 20 and 22, thefloor portion 20 being folded inwardly from the side panels intohorizontal position, and the divider wall portions 22 being then foldedvertically upwardly therefrom. In forming the two, four and sixcompartment cartons, these divider wall portions 22 are in abuttingparallel relation, and in the three, nine and twelve compartmentcartons, these divider wall portions are in parallel but spaced apartrelationship.

In the two, four and six compartment carton, it is obvious that onedivider wall portion 22, and possibly even its floor portion 20 could beomitted, but with a corresponding loss of its strengthening andcushioning effect.

An interlocking, cooperating carton bottom wall panel 24 extendsfoldably from the bottom edge of each .of the alternate side panels 18,and when their interlocking hooks 26 are hooked together beneath thefloor portion or portions 20, a carton bottom is provided which supportsthe floor portions 20 and vertical divider walls 22 in position. Fromthe upper edge of side panel 14 foldably extends the carton top cover 28having an extending tongue 30. The tongue 30 is inserted through theslot 32 provided in the fold line at the top edge of the other sidepanel 16 from which extends a compartment top cover panel 34. Thecompartment top cover 34 extends the full width of the carton in thetwo, three, four, six and nine compartment cartons, thus providing, withthe carton top cover 28 a complete double thickness cushion on the topof the carton. As thus far described, a complete two compartment cartonis provided. When the upwardly extending divider walls 22 abut eachother a three compartment carton is provided when the walls 22 arespaced apart, as in FIGS. and 7.

Foldably extending from the top edge of each of the side panels 18 is acompartment divider vertical wall portion providing a compartment topportion 36 and two downwardly foldable vertical compartment divider wallportions 38, divided by a single slit 40' in the case of the four andsix compartment cartons. Three downwardly foldable divider wall portionsdivided by two slits are provided in the nine and twelve compartmentcartons 52 and 54. In the nine compartment carton 52, when equal widthcompartments are desired, the middle divider wall portion 42 is the samewidth as and divided from the other two divider wall portions 44 byslits 45, but in the twelve compartment carton, for equal widthcompartments, the middle wall portion 46 is twice the width of the twoend wall portions 48, and divided by slits 49.

The downwardly extending vertical divider wall portions 38 are spacedapart to provide the six compartment carton 12 of FIG. 1, but when suchwall portions 38 abut each other, a four compartment carton is providedas in FIG. 4. As thus described, the same basic one piece blank is usedto provide either the six compartment carton 12, shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and3, or the four compartment carton 50 shown in FIG. 6.

Just as a two compartment carton is provided by either omitting thecompartment top 36 and downwardly extending divider walls 38, 'or bymerely leaving the divider walls in the same horizontal plane with thetop portions 36, a three compartment carton is provided in the ninecompartment carton 52, either by omitting their top compartment portions36 .and divider walls 42 and 44, or by maintaining the divider walls 42and 44, in the same horizontal plane with their top compartment portions36, and the same procedure applies in converting the twelve compartmentcarton 54 into a three compartment carton. In the nine compartmentconversion, three equal size compartments will be provided, and in thetwelve compartment conversion, the middle compartment thus provided willbe twice the size of the other two compartments. Also, omission of oneor more of the vertical divider walls will vary the number ofcompartments provided. Thus, the carton may be tailored to fit aparticular use, such as when a set of articles may consist of one largeitem and a number of small items.

The nine compartment carton 52 is made in the same manner as the sixcompartment carton 12, except that the upwardly extending parallel wallportions 22 are spaced apart as at 56 to the same distance as the widthof the center downwardly extending divider wall panel 42, with thedivider panel 42 extending between the two parallel wall portions 56,and the other divider wall panels 44 extending between the wall portions56 and the side panels 14 or 16.

The twelve compartment carton 54 is set up the same way as the ninecompartment carton 52, with the following additional details to make ita twelve compartment carton. The upwardly extending parallel wallportions 4 58 are spaced further apart, to cooperate with the slits 49between the downwardly extending divider wall portions 46 and 48, thusdividing this carton 54 into nine compartments, and then the compartmenttop cover is folded at its midline 60 to provide a half size compartmenttop cove-r portion 62, and the other half is divided by parallel slits64 into three vertically depending divider wall portions 66 which willbe parallel to divider compartment walls 58. Each compartment dividerwall top portion 36 is provided with aligned slits 68, the slits 68permitting the outer two depending divider wall portions 66 to extendtherethrough so that the three depending wall portions 66 will then bealigned in the position shown at 70, thus providing twelve compartments.By omitting any selected one or more of the depending divider wallportions, or by placing them in horizontal position, any number ofcompartments may be provided, as obvious, although, of course, thecompartments thus provided will not all be of the same size, althoughall will be rectangular.

Thus, the same one piece basic blank shown at 10, by merely changing theposition of certain fold lines, and by adding the appropriate dividingslits as indicated, may be used for making up a multiple compartmentcarton of one, two, three, four, six, nine or twelve compartments, allof equal size, or with some of the compartments of a larger size thanthe others, if desired, by merely shifting the fold lines and sizes ofthe divider wall panels. Also, cartons with lesser numbers ofcompartments, at least one of which will be a different and larger sizethan the others, may be provided by omitting or ignoring one or more ofthe depending wall portions, as set forth. Thus the same 'basic onepiece blank may be tailored to make up a carton with any number ofcompartments, as desired, between one and twelve.

Also, for convenience in shipping and in sorting the completed cartons,every one of them may be col-lapsed to a flat position by folding alongtwo diagonally opposite vertical fold lines between the sides and ends.If desired, some or all of the top and bottom portions extending fromthe sides and ends may be further folded to make a still smaller, butthicker, collapsed unit.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting,since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of theinvention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

1. A multiple compartment carton single piece blank, said blankcomprising four rectangular carton side panels foldably connectedtogether in linear end-to-end relation, means for securing theunconnected end of one end carton side panel to the unconnected end ofthe other end carton side panel, an interlocking carton bottom foldablyconnected to a corresponding bottom edge of each of two alternate panelsof said carton side panels, a compartment bottom panel foldablyconnected along one edge to a corresponding edge of each of the othertwo alternate carton side panels, a compartment wall panel foldablyconnected to the opposite corresponding edge of at least one compartmentbottom panel, a compartment top panel foldably connected along one edgeto the opposite edge of one of said other two alternate carton sidepanels, and a carton top cover foldably connected along one edge to thecorresponding opposite edge of the other of said other two alternatecarton side panels.

2. A multiple compartment carton single piece blank, said blankcomprising four rectangular carton side panels foldably connectedtogether in linear end-to-end relation, a securing strip foldablyconnected to the unconnected end of one end carton side panel forsecuring it to the unconnected end of the other end carton side panel,an interlocking carton bottom foldably connected to a correspondingbottom edge of each of two alternatepanels of said carton side panels, acompartment bottom panel foldably connected along one edge to acorresponding edge of each of the other two alternate carton sidepanels, a compartment wall panel foldably conected to the oppositecorresponding edge of at least one compartment bottom panel, acompartment top panel foldably connected along one edge to the oppositeedge of one of said other two alternate carton side panels, the foldline between said compartment .top panel and its connecting carton sidepanel having a carton top cover tongue receiving slot therein, a cartontop cover .foldably connected along one edge to the correspondingopposite edge of the other of said other two alternate carton sidepanels, and a carton top cover tongue foldably extending from theopposite edge of said carton top cover.

3. A multiple compartment carton single piece blank, said blankcomprising four rectangular carton side panels foldably connectedtogether in linear end-to-end relation, a securing strip foldablyconnected to the unconnected end of one end carton side panel forsecuring it to the unconnected end of the other end carton side panel,an interlocking carton bottom foldably connected to a correspondingbottom edge of each of two alternate panels of said carton side panels,a compartment top panel foldably connected along one edge to theopposite corresponding top edge of each said two alternate carton sidepanels, a plurality of adjacent vertical compartment divider panelsfoldably connected to the opposite edge of each said compartment toppanels, a compartment bottom panel foldably connected along one edge toa corresponding edge of each of the other two alternate carton sidepanels, a compartment wall panel foldably connected to the oppositecorresponding edge of each compartment bottom panel, a compartment topcover panel foldably connected along one edge to the opposite edge ofone of said other two alternate carton side panels, the fold linebetween said compartment top cover panel and its connecting carton sidepanel having a carton top cover tongue receiving slot therein, a cartontop cover foldably connected along one edge to the correspondingopposite edge of the other of said other two alternate carton sidepanels, and a carton top cover tongue foldably extending from theopposite edge of said carton top cover.

4. A multiple compartment carton comprising the carton blank of claim 1,said securing means connecting the end of one end carton side panel tothe end of the other end carton side panel, said carton side panelsbeing folded inwardly at right angles to each other, said twocompartment bottom panels being folded inwardly at right angles to theirconnected side panels, said compartment wall panel being folded upwardlyat right angles from said compartment bottom panel, each compartment toppanel being folded over said compartment wall panel with their pluralityof divider panels folded downwardly on opposite sides of said wallpanel, said carton cover being foldable over the compartment top panelsand wall, said interlocking carton bottom panels being folded towardeach other and interlocked beneath said compartment bottom panels.

5. A six compartment carton one piece blank, said blank comprising tworectangular carton vertical side panels and two rectangular cartonvertical end panels alternately foldably connected together in linearalignment, a securing strip foldably extending from the unconnectedvertical end edge of one carton panel, an interlocking carton bottompanel foldably connected to a corresponding bottom edge of said twocarton end panels, a compartment bottom panel foldably connected alongone edge to a corresponding bottom ed e of each said two carton sidepanels, a compartment wall panel foldably connected to the opposite edgeof each said compartment bottom panels, a top compartment panel foldablyconnected along one edge to each said carton end panels, a plurality ofadjacent vertical compartment divider panels foldably corinected to theopposite edge of said top compartment panels, a compartment covering toppanel foldably connected along one edge to the top edge of one cartonside panel, the fold line therebetween having a carton top cover tonguereceiving slot therein, a carton top cover foldably connected along oneedge to the top edge of said other carton side panel and a tonguefold-ably extending from the opposite edge of said carton top cover.

6. A six compartment carton comprising the one piece blank of claim 5,said blank being folded with its carton end and side panels invertically extending rectangular relationship, said securing strip beingsecured to the abutting end edge portions of the abutting end panels,said compartment bottom panels being folded inwardly at right angles tosaid side pane-ls with their compartment walls folded verticallyupwardly therefrom in parallel abutting relationship, said interlockingcarton bottom panels being folded toward each other and interlockedbeneath said compartment bottom panels, said top compartment panelsbeing folded inwardly horizontally from their carton end panels withtheir divided panels extending vertically downwardly on opposite sidesof said abutting compartment walls, each pair of divider panels beingspaced from the other pair, said compartment covering top panel on saidcarton side panel being folded horizontally, and said carton top coverbeing folded over said compartments and having its tongue inserted inthe said tongue slot.

7. A multiple compartment carton comprising a one piece blank, saidblank providing four linearly extending carton :side walls folded intorectangular relationship, said side walls being secured together inend-to-end relationship, interlocking bottom walls fo-ldably extendingfrom two opposite side walls, a compartment bottom and intermediatedivider wall foldably extending upwardly in parallel relationship fromeach of the alternate opposite side walls, a compartment top wall and aplurality of divider panels foldably extending downwardly from saidfirst pair of opposite side walls, said divider panels extending onopposite side of said bottom intermediate divider walls and a covermember extending from the top edge of one of said alternate side walls.

8. The carton of claim 7, the divider panels of one top compartment wallbeing spaced from the divider panels of the other compartment wall,thereby providing six compartments in the carton.

9. The carton of claim 7, the upwardly extending divider walls abuttingeach other, and the downwardly extending divider panels ab tting eachother, thereby providing four compartments in the carton.

10. The carton of claim 7, said bottom intermediate divider walls beingspaced from each other, the divider panels of one top compartment wallbeing spaced from the divider panels of the other top compartment wall,there being two division slits providing three divider panlescooperating with said two bottom spaced apart divider walls therebyproviding nine compartments.

11. The carton of claim 7, said bottom intermediate divider walls beingspaced from each other, the divider panels of one top compartment wallbeing spaced from the divider panels of the other top compartment wall,there being two division slits providing three divider panelscooperating with said two bottom spaced apart divider walls, each saidtop compartment panel having an aligned slit extending between itsopposite fold edges, and a panel member foldably extending along oneedge from the top edge of the side wall opposite to said side wall fromwhich the carton cover extends, and three foldably connected dividerpane-ls extending from the opposite edge of said panel member to extendvertically down between said spaced apart bottom upwardlyextendingcompartment walls, each of the outer two of said three divider panelsextending through one of said aligned slits, thereby providing t-WelVecompartments.

12. A multiple compartment carton one piece blank comprising fourlinearly extending carton panels foldably connected together,compartment bottom panels extending at one edge from a correspondingedge of alternate cart-on panels, compartment vertical wall panelsextending from the other edge of said compartment -bottom panels, aninterlocking carton bottom wall panel extending from one edge of eachone of the other alternate carton panels, compartment cover panelsextending at one edge from the other edge of said other alternate cartonpanels and having divider compartment wall panels extending from theopposite edge of said compartment and a carton top cover wall meansextending at one edge from an opposite edge of at least one oppositeedge of one of said alternate carton panels.

13. A multiple compartment carton comprising the one piece blank ofclaim 12, said linearly extending carton pane-ls being folded andsecured in rectangular vertically extending relationship, said cartonbottom panels being folded horizontally inwardly with their compartmentwalls extending upwardly, said carton bottom wall means being foldedinwardly and secured horizontally beneath said compartment bottompane-ls and supporting said compartment bottom panels, said compartmenttop panels being folded horizontally over said upwardly extendingcompartment walls with their divider compartment walls extendingdownwardly on opposite sides and at right angles to said upwardlyextending compartment walls, said carton top cover wall means beingsecurable in horizontal position over said compartment top panels.

14. The carton of claim 13, and a compartment top wall panel extendingat one edge from the top edge of the carton panel opposite to that panelfrom which the carton top cover wall means extends.

15. A multiple compartment carton comprising a one piece blank, said onepiece blank comprising four linearly extending carton panels foldablyconnected together, compartment bottom panels extending at one edge froma corresponding edge of alternate carton panels, compartment verticalwall panels extending from the other edge of said compartment bottompanels, carton bottom wall means extending from at least one edge of oneof the other alternate carton panels, compartment cover panels extendingat one edge from the other edge of said. other alternate carton panelsand having divider compartment wall panels extending from the oppositeedge of said compartment and a carton top cover wall means extending atone edge from an opposite edge of at least one opposite edge of one ofSaid alternate carton panels, said linearly extending carton panelsbeing folded and secured in rectangular vertically extendingrelationship, said carton bottom panels being folded horizontallyinwardly with their compartment walls extending upwardly, said cartonbottom wall means being folded inwardly and secured horizontally beneathsaid compartment bottom panels and supporting said compartment bottompanels, said compartment top panels being folded horizontally over saidupwardly extending compartment walls with their divider compartmentwalls extending downwardly on opposite sides and at right angles to saidupwardly extending compartment walls, said carton top cover wall meansbeing securable in horizontal position over said compartment top panels,a compartment top wall panel extending at one edge from the top edge ofthe carton panel opposite to that panel from which the carton top coverwall means extends and a carton cover wall means securing tongueextending from the opposite edge of said top cover wall means, saidlatter compartment top Wall panel having a top cover receiving slit inits panel connecting edge.

16. The carton of claim 15, said compartment top wall panel being foldedhorizontally inwardly, said carton cover wall means being foldedhorizontally over said compartment top panels and secured by said tonguereceiving slot.

17. A multiple compartment carton comprising a one piece blank, saidblank providing four linearly extending carton side walls folded intorectangular relationship, said side walls being secured together inend-to-end relationship, interlocking bottom walls foldably extendingfrom two opposite side walls, a compartment bottom and intermediatedivider wall foldab-ly extending upwardly in parallel relationship fromeach of the alternate side walls, and a cover member extending from thetop edge of one of said opposite side walls, said upwardly extendingparallel divider walls being spaced from each other, thereby providingthree compartments.

18. The carton of claim 17, a compartment top wall and a plurality ofdivider panels foldably extending downwardly from said first pair ofopposite side walls, said divider panels extending on opposite sides ofsaid bottom intermediate divider walls, thereby providing a total ofnine compartments.

19. The carton of claim 18, and a top compartment panel extending fromthe top edge of the other of said opposite side walls, and threeseparate divider walls foldably extending down between and parallel tosaid spaced apart upwardly extending parallel divider walls, the outertwo of these three separate divider walls extending down through alignedslits in each said compartment top wall extending from said pair ofopposite carton side walls, thereby providing a total of twelvecompartments.

20. A multiple compartment carton comprising a one piece blank, saidblank providing four linearly extending carton side walls folded intorectangular relationship, said side walls being secured together inend-to-end relationship, interlocking bottom walls foldably extendingfrom two opposite side walls, a compartment bottom and intermediatedivider wall foldably extending upwardly in parallel relationship fromeach of the alternate side walls, and a cover member extending from thetop edge of one of said opposite side walls, said upwardly extendingparallel divider walls abutting each other, thereby providing twocompartments.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1937 Myers22927 4/1952 Kohl 22927

17. A MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT CARTON COMPRISING A ONE PIECE BLANK, SAIDBLANK PROVIDING FOUR LINEARLY EXTENDING CARTON SIDE WALLS FOLDED INTORECTANGULAR RELATIONSHIP, SAID SIDE WALLS BEING SECURED TOGETHER INEND-TO-END RELATIONSHIP, INTERLOCKING BOTTOM WALLS FOLDABLY EXTENDINGFROM TWO OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS, A COMPARTMENT BOTTOM AND INTERMEDIATEDIVIDER WALL FOLDABLY EXTENDING UPWARDLY IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP FROMEACH OF THE ALTERNATE SIDE WALLS, AND A COVER MEMBER EXTENDING FROM THETOP EDGE OF ONE OF SAID OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS, SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDINGPARALLEL DIVIDER WALLS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER, THEREBY PROVIDINGTHREE COMPARTMENTS.